Two mussel dredgers have vehemently denied allegations they caused devastation to starfish while operating off the east Kent coast.

Brothers John and Patrick Gilson, of Cardium Shellfish on the East Quay, Whistable, have been trawling since they left school and are the fourth of five generations of fishermen.

Between them they have more than 80 years’ experience harvesting the sea, dredging for cockles and mussels.

They were left indignant and upset, however, by accusations following dramatic scenes when thousands of the invertebrates washed up on the east coast.

It was a spectacular sight along the length of Pegwell and Sandwich bays, and prompted some emotional responses.

But the Gilsons take great pride in their environmental awareness, sensitivity and the benefits of their operation to marine ecosystems, and were quick to speak out.

John Gilson said: “We are not bad fishermen, we are professional men and 99.9 per cent certain the starfish on the beaches were not due to us.”

Starfish feed on shellfish using their tentacles. When they want to move any distance, they roll into a ball and are then governed by tidal streams and weather conditions.

Mr Gilson said that before the starfish were stranded there had been a north easterly swell followed by south westerly winds that may have been responsible for blowing them ashore.

Surveys of Pegwell and Sandwich bays prior to dredging had found an extensive line of mussel beds, five miles long and a quarter of a mile wide, not viable for fishing.

One particularly dense mussel area outside Ramsgate harbour would have been unfishable due to a concentration of feeding starfish, as the dredges cannot separate the species and would quickly fill with starfish.

Dredging started mid-February on an area with no starfish, five miles from Ramsgate, two to three miles outside low water.

Two vessels had been operating and collected 27 loads of seed mussels, each weighing 14 tonnes, from an area three quarters of a mile long by a mile wide.

Operations had now ceased as mussels were spawning, and no further permits would be allocated until the end of October.

Mr Gilson added: “Let’s find out the real cause before blaming the fishermen.”

The Gilsons, based in Whitstable Harbour, have invited anyone with concerns to contact them directly on 01227 264769.